BRIDGEWATER, Va. -- Junior forward and team captain Shane Fernald (Charlotte, NC) scored a career-high and game-high 23 points, adding a career-high and game-high four steals, to lead nationally-ranked No. 5 Hampden-Sydney College to an 83-62 Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) basketball road win at Bridgewater College on Saturday evening in Bridgewater. Fernald (6-7, 255) was 10-15 from the floor and 3-3 at the line, while freshman guard Travis Stickney (Mount Pleasant, SC) finished with 11 points. The Tigers led just 34-33 at halftime, but scored the first 11 points of the second half, while outscoring the Eagles 49-29 after the break toward their ninth consecutive win. H-SC improved to 19-3 overall, 12-1 in the ODAC, while BC dropped to 8-14 overall, 3-10 in the ODAC—led by Jordan Cooper with 17 points.

"Big road win!" said sixth-year head coach Caleb Kimbrough. "We didn't open the game the way we wanted to, but I'm proud of how the guys regrouped and turned it on in the second half. We just keep building with this group!"

H-SC, ranked No. 5 in the latest D3hoops.com Top 25, scored the first basket of the contest when Fernald was successful down low at 18:46, and it was tied at 4-4 with 17:29 on the clock after an offensive rebound basket by senior guard Nick Shryock (Davidson, NC). BC, however, used a quick 10-4 run to lead 14-8 at 15:34 for its largest lead of the game. A three-point field goal from senior guard Ayman McGowan (Memphis, TN) off the bench had the Tigers within 14-11 at 15:02, and three-of-three free throws by McGowan made it a 17-14 deficit at 13:57. The Eagles led 19-14 at 13:54, and were ahead 24-20 at 9:03, but the Garnet & Grey battled back with a 7-1 run to lead 27-25 with 6:02 on the first-half clock—getting five points from Fernald and a drive to the basket by All-American fifth-year guard and third-year team captain Adam Brazil (Mooresville, NC). BC rallied back with an 8-2 run to lead 33-29 at 1:34, but H-SC scored the last five points of the half to lead 34-33 at the intermission, as Fernald scored down low and McGowan connected on another three-pointer with just seven-seconds left.

H-SC continued its momentum to begin the second half, scoring the first 11 points to extend the advantage to 45-33 with 17:58 remaining—a 16-0 run over the two halves. Stickney scored five of the early points, including a three-pointer, while Shryock, Fernald and Brazil added baskets, as well. BC used an 11-6 run to get within 51-44 at 13:03, but that was as close as it would get … the Tigers answering back with 11 unanswered points to lead 62-44 with 10:30 left to play. Fernald and freshman guard Tugg Bizzelle (Baltimore, MD), off the bench, each scored four points, including a steal and left-handed slam dunk by Bizzelle, while junior transfer guard and team captain Colin Radcliffe (Richlands, NC) added a three-pointer off the bench, as well. The Garnet & Grey led 75-53 at 5:47 following back-to-back baskets inside by Fernald, and took their largest lead at 79-53 with 4:34 remaining after a layup from Radcliffe, assisted by Fernald. A jumper by junior guard Davis Cauble (Richmond) made it 83-58 with 29-seconds on the clock toward the final margin of victory.

Fernald led H-SC with his career-high and game-high 23 points, including his 10-15 field goals and 3-3 free throws, adding his career-high and game-high four steals, along with five rebounds and three assists. Stickney added his 11 points for the Tigers, making 5-7 field goals (1-3 3FGs). McGowan had nine points, including 2-2 three-pointers and 3-3 free throws. Brazil and Bizzelle each finished with eight points, with Brazil adding five assists, while Shryock and Radcliffe each contributed seven points, with Shryock added seven rebound and three assists and Radcliffe adding five rebounds and a season-high two steals. H-SC shot 54% (35-65) from the field, including 28% (5-18) on three-pointers, and 89% (8-9) at the free throw line. The Tigers enjoyed a 54-32 advantage in points scored in the paint, a 34-14 advantage in bench points and a 26-10 advantage in points scored off turnovers.

Cooper led BC with his 17 points, adding five rebounds and three assists. Aaron Oates and Maleek Richardson each had 10 points for the Eagles, with Oates added six rebounds and Richardson adding five rebounds and two blocks. BC shot 40% (23-57) from the field, including 24% (6-25) on three-pointers, and 77% (10-13) at the line.

H-SC returns home to welcome ODAC member (RV)Guilford (NC) College on Wednesday night, February 12, at 7 p.m. in S. Douglas Fleet Gymnasium at Kirby Field House. As a reminder, it's free admission for all regular season home athletic contests at the College.